Piecemeal Armor

Variant Rules

Piecemeal armor lets characters mix and match arms, legs, and torso armor pieces from different armor types — useful when a full suit isn't available or time is short. Wearing all three pieces of any combination constitutes a suit and grants a +1 armor bonus on top of the pieces' combined protection.

How Pieces Combine

Armor is split into three slots: Arms, Legs, and Torso (including the head). A single arm or leg piece covers both limbs respectively.

When wearing more than one piece, add the armor bonuses, costs, and weights; take the worst max Dex bonus, armor check penalty, arcane spell failure chance, and speed from among all pieces worn.

Full Suit Bonus

Wearing all three slots — even of mixed types — grants an additional +1 armor bonus. A mixed suit also increases arcane spell failure chance by 5%.

Partial Armor

Wearing even one piece counts as wearing armor (triggers fighter armor training, armor mastery, etc.). A partial mixed set does not increase arcane spell failure.

Example: Half-Plate Suit Pieces

Plate arm + chain leg + plate torso = half-plate. The suit row shows the bonus from wearing all three pieces together.

Armor Type	Cost	Armor Bonus	Max Dex	ACP	ASF	Speed (30/20)	Weight
Half-plate (total)	600 gp	+8	+0	–7	40%	20/15 ft.	50 lbs.
Plate arm piece	375 gp	+1	+0	–7	35%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Chain leg piece	25 gp	+0	+2	–2	15%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Plate torso piece	200 gp	+6	+3	–4	35%	20/15 ft.	30 lbs.
Suit bonus	—	+1	—	—	+5%	—	—

Proficiency

Proficiency with an armor category extends to all pieces of that category. Proficiency with light armor means proficiency with all light armor pieces.

Some torso pieces are treated as a category lighter when worn alone: a chain torso piece worn alone functions as a chain shirt; a plate torso piece worn alone functions as a breastplate; an agile plate torso piece functions as an agile breastplate.

When wearing any piece of a type you are not proficient with, you take that piece's armor check penalty on attack rolls and all Strength/Dexterity-based skill checks. If multiple non-proficient pieces are worn, apply the worst ACP among them.

Masterwork, Special Materials, and Magic

Any individual piece can be masterwork, made of special materials, or magically enchanted. However, crafting or enchanting each piece separately is inefficient — the most efficient approach is to craft or enchant the entire suit together.

Suit-crafted magic: Pieces crafted or enchanted as a suit are only masterwork/magical as a set. Individual pieces worn outside the set function as normal non-masterwork, non-magical pieces of their type.

Mixed-piece magic: If pieces were separately enchanted, only the most protective piece's enhancement applies — typically the torso, then legs, then arms.

Special materials: For a character to gain a special material's benefit, all worn pieces must be made of that material. Piece costs are calculated at a discount — constructing a full suit at once uses the standard costs.

Adamantine armor pieces grant damage reduction based on category: 1/— (light), 2/— (medium), 3/— (heavy). All adamantine pieces are automatically masterwork, and normally-steel pieces have one-third more hit points.

Piece	Cost Modifier
Medium arm piece	+2,500 gp
Medium leg piece	+2,500 gp
Medium torso piece	+5,000 gp
Heavy arm piece	+2,500 gp
Heavy leg piece	+2,500 gp
Heavy torso piece	+10,000 gp

If the dragonhide comes from a dragon with energy immunity, the pieces share that immunity — but only confer it on the wearer when wearing a full suit of dragonhide from the same dragon type. Cost: double the base armor piece cost + 100 gp. A plate torso piece can be crafted from dragonhide for 700 gp; an agile plate torso piece for 1,100 gp — either confers the dragon's energy immunity when worn alone.

Mithral pieces weigh half as much as their steel counterparts and are automatically masterwork. Medium mithral pieces do not reduce movement; heavy mithral pieces do not reduce run speed to ×3.

When all worn pieces are mithral: spell failure –10%, max Dex +2, ACP –3 (minimum 0).

Piece	Cost Modifier
Medium arm piece	+1,500 gp
Medium leg piece	+1,500 gp
Medium torso piece	+1,000 gp
Heavy arm piece	+2,500 gp
Heavy leg piece	+2,500 gp
Heavy torso piece	+4,000 gp

Donning and Removing Armor Pieces

Donning a piece hastily worsens both the armor bonus and armor check penalty by 1 (minimum 0 armor bonus). ¹ With help, time is halved. ² Requires a helper to don; can only be donned hastily without one.

Armor Piece	Don	Don Hastily	Remove
Light arm piece	2 rounds	1 round	2 rounds ¹
Light leg piece	3 rounds	2 rounds	2 rounds ¹
Light torso piece	5 rounds	2 rounds	5 rounds ¹
Medium arm piece	1 min. ¹	2 rounds	2 rounds ¹
Medium leg piece	1 min. ¹	3 rounds	2 rounds ¹
Medium torso piece	1 min. ¹	5 rounds	3 rounds ¹
Heavy arm piece	1 min. ²	1 min. ¹	1 min. ¹
Heavy leg piece	1 min. ²	1 min. ¹	1 min. ¹
Heavy torso piece	2 min. ²	1 min. ¹	2 min. ¹

Other Rules

Unusual Creatures

Armor pieces for unusually large, small, or non-humanoid creatures use the standard Armor for Unusual Creatures cost/weight multipliers. For animals with four or more legs, armor for half the legs counts as the leg piece; armor for the other half counts as the arm piece.

Hit Points and Hardness

Use the hardness of the weakest material. HP = (total armor bonus, including the suit +1) × 5. For a single piece: HP = that piece's armor bonus (treat +0 pieces as +1) × 5.

Arm Armor Pieces

Arm pieces cover both arms and tend to have the lowest armor value of the three slots. Because they interfere with somatic components, they carry the highest spell failure chance of any slot.

Armor Type	Cost	Armor Bonus	Max Dex	ACP	ASF	Speed (30/20)	Weight ¹
Light Armor
Lamellar, leather	15 gp	+0	+3	–1	20%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Leather	2 gp	+0	+6	0	10%	30/20 ft.	2 lbs.
Padded	1 gp	+0	+8	0	5%	30/20 ft.	2 lbs.
Quilted cloth	25 gp	+0	+8	0	10%	30/20 ft.	2 lbs.
Studded leather	5 gp	+0	+5	0	15%	30/20 ft.	2 lbs.
Wooden	5 gp	+0	+3	–1	15%	30/20 ft.	3 lbs.
Medium Armor
Hide	2 gp	+0	+4	–2	20%	30/20 ft.	3 lbs.
Kikko	5 gp	+0	+5	–1	20%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Chain	25 gp	+1	+2	–3	30%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Lamellar, horn	25 gp	+1	+5	–2	25%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Lamellar, steel	25 gp	+1	+3	–2	25%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Mountain pattern	50 gp	+1	+3	–2	30%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Scale	10 gp	+1	+3	–2	25%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Heavy Armor
Agile plate	425 gp	+1	+0	–7	40%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Banded	50 gp	+1	+1	–3	35%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Kusari gusoku	50 gp	+1	+1	–3	35%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Lamellar, iron	50 gp	+1	+0	–4	40%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
O-yoroi	250 gp	+1	+2	–5	35%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Plate	375 gp	+1	+1	–7	35%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Splint	50 gp	+1	+0	–4	40%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Tatami-do	100 gp	+1	+3	–5	35%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
¹ For Medium characters. Small: ½ weight. Large: ×2 weight.

Agile Plate: Pauldrons, gardbraces, rerebraces, vambraces, and gauntlets designed for maneuverability. When worn alone, with an agile plate torso piece, or with an agile plate torso + chain leg (or lighter), the ACP for Climb and jump checks is only –4 (masterwork and mithral reduce this further).
Banded: Overlapping strips of metal on leather, forming long sleeves connected to pauldrons with metal gauntlets at the hands.
Chain: Loose-fitting chain sleeves fitted to the shoulder, or separate chain lengths attached to pauldrons and couters, ending in gauntlets.
Hide: Sleeves crafted from the tanned and preserved skin of a thick-skinned beast.
Lamellar, Horn: Horn plates laced together in parallel rows and reinforced with leather.
Lamellar, Iron: Iron plates laced together in parallel rows and reinforced with chainmail.
Lamellar, Leather: Hard-boiled leather plates laced together in parallel rows.
Lamellar, Steel: Steel plates laced together in parallel rows. Includes a pair of gauntlets.
Kikko: Leather sleeves reinforced by hexagonal iron plates.
Kusari Gusoku: Light lamellar shoulder guards and lacquered sleeves.
Leather: Hard-boiled leather sleeves carefully sewn together.
Mountain Pattern: Interlocking steel pieces shaped to resemble the character for "mountain," riveted onto cloth.
O-Yoroi: Steel lamellar shoulder guards and metal-reinforced leather sleeves. Includes gauntlets.
Padded: Heavy or quilted cloth sleeves.
Plate: Pauldrons, gardbraces, rerebraces, vambraces, and gauntlets with bits of chainmail and padded armor.
Quilted Cloth: Heavy quilted cloth designed to trap ranged piercing weapons. When worn alone (or with only other quilted cloth pieces), grants DR 3/— against ranged piercing weapons.
Scale: Dozens of small overlapping metal plates. Includes gauntlets.
Splint: Metal strips reinforced with chain mail. Includes gauntlets.
Studded Leather: Hard-boiled leather reinforced with metal studs.
Tatami-Do: Lighter lamellar shoulder guard and lacquered sleeve. Includes gauntlets.
Wooden: Fire-treated wood sewn over leather.

Leg Armor Pieces

Heavier leg pieces slow movement and raise ACP, but are less restrictive to spellcasters than heavier arm pieces.

Armor Type	Cost	Armor Bonus	Max Dex	ACP	ASF	Speed (30/20)	Weight ¹
Light Armor
Leather	3 gp	+0	+6	0	0%	30/20 ft.	3 lbs.
Padded	1 gp	+0	+8	0	0%	30/20 ft.	3 lbs.
Quilted cloth	25 gp	+0	+8	0	5%	30/20 ft.	3 lbs.
Lamellar, leather	15 gp	+1	+2	–1	10%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Studded leather	5 gp	+1	+5	0	10%	30/20 ft.	3 lbs.
Wooden	5 gp	+1	+3	–1	5%	30/20 ft.	7 lbs.
Medium Armor
Chain	25 gp	+0	+2	–2	15%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Hide	3 gp	+1	+4	–2	10%	30/20 ft.	7 lbs.
Kikko	10 gp	+1	+3	–1	10%	20/15 ft.	5 lbs.
Lamellar, horn	25 gp	+1	+3	–2	10%	20/15 ft.	5 lbs.
Lamellar, steel	25 gp	+1	+3	–2	15%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Mountain pattern	50 gp	+1	+3	–2	15%	20/15 ft.	10 lbs.
Scale	10 gp	+1	+3	–2	15%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Heavy Armor
Banded	50 gp	+1	+1	–3	15%	20/15 ft. ²	10 lbs.
Kusari gusoku	100 gp	+1	+1	–3	20%	20/15 ft. ²	10 lbs.
Lamellar, iron	50 gp	+1	+1	–4	20%	20/15 ft. ²	10 lbs.
Plate	925 gp	+1	+1	–3	20%	20/15 ft. ²	10 lbs.
Splint	50 gp	+1	+0	–4	20%	20/15 ft. ²	15 lbs.
Tatami-do	150 gp	+1	+3	–3	15%	20/15 ft. ²	5 lbs.
O-yoroi	300 gp	+2	+2	–3	20%	20/15 ft. ²	5 lbs.
¹ For Medium characters. Small: ½ weight. Large: ×2 weight. ² Run speed ×3, not ×4.

Banded: Overlapping strips of metal on leather, forming leggings or a skirt.
Chain: A long chainmail skirt with steel greaves, or individual leggings of tight-fitting chain reinforced with padding, kneeplates, and leather straps.
Hide: Leggings or a skirt of tanned and preserved thick-skinned beast hide.
Kikko: Leather skirt reinforced by hexagonal iron plates, with leather greaves reinforced by steel. Some versions use individual leggings of the same construction.
Kusari Gusoku: Light lamellar thigh guards with quilted cloth or leather leggings.
Lamellar, Horn: Horn plates laced in parallel rows, reinforced with leather. Can take the form of leggings or a skirt; skirt versions add leather greaves reinforced with horn.
Lamellar, Iron: Iron plates laced in parallel rows, reinforced with chainmail. Skirt versions add leather greaves reinforced with iron.
Lamellar, Leather: Hard-boiled leather plates laced in parallel rows. Can be a skirt or leggings.
Lamellar, Steel: Thigh guards and leggings (or a skirt) of steel plates laced in parallel rows.
Leather: Hard-boiled leather leggings or skirt, carefully sewn together.
Mountain Pattern: Long skirt of interlocking steel pieces riveted onto cloth, with cloth or leather greaves reinforced with steel plates. Some versions use individual leggings.
O-Yoroi: Steel lamellar thigh guards and metal-reinforced leather and cloth leggings.
Padded: Leggings or a skirt of heavy or quilted cloth.
Plate: Faulds, tassets, cuisses, poleyns, and greaves with chainmail and padding for support.
Quilted Cloth: Heavy quilted cloth leggings. When worn alone (or with only other quilted cloth pieces), grants DR 3/— against ranged piercing weapons.
Scale: Skirt of overlapping metal plates with leather greaves reinforced by steel. Some suits use long leggings of overlapping plates instead.
Splint: Thigh guards and leggings of metal strips and chainmail.
Studded Leather: Hard-boiled leather leggings reinforced with metal studs.
Tatami-Do: Light lamellar thigh guards with leggings.
Wooden: Leggings or skirt of fire-treated wood sewn over leather.

Torso Armor Pieces

The torso slot provides the most protection but also the most hindrance. Some pieces are treated as a lighter category when worn alone — see footnotes.

Armor Type	Cost	Armor Bonus	Max Dex	ACP	ASF	Speed (30/20)	Weight ¹
Light Armor
Padded	3 gp	+0	+8	0	5%	30/20 ft.	5 lbs.
Quilted cloth	50 gp	+0	+8	0	10%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Haramaki	3 gp	+1	+10	0	0%	30/20 ft.	1 lb.
Leather	5 gp	+1	+6	0	10%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Silken ceremonial armor	30 gp	+1	+10	0	0%	30/20 ft.	4 lbs.
Studded leather	15 gp	+1	+5	0	15%	30/20 ft.	15 lbs.
Wooden	10 gp	+1	+3	–1	15%	30/20 ft.	15 lbs.
Lamellar cuirass	15 gp	+2	+4	0	5%	30/20 ft.	8 lbs.
Lamellar, leather	30 gp	+2	+3	–2	20%	30/20 ft.	10 lbs.
Medium Armor
Lamellar, steel	100 gp	+1	+3	–5	25%	20/15 ft.	25 lbs.
Hide	10 gp	+2	+4	–2	20%	30/20 ft.	15 lbs.
Kikko	15 gp	+2	+4	–3	20%	20/15 ft.	15 lbs.
Lamellar, horn	50 gp	+2	+3	–4	25%	20/15 ft.	20 lbs.
Scale	30 gp	+2	+3	–2	25%	30/20 ft.	15 lbs.
Mountain pattern	150 gp	+3	+3	–4	30%	20/15 ft.	20 lbs.
Armored coat	50 gp	+4	+3	–2	20%	20/15 ft.	20 lbs.
Chain ³	100 gp	+4	+4	–2	30%	30/20 ft.	25 lbs.
Do-maru	200 gp	+5	+4	–4	25%	20/15 ft.	30 lbs.
Four-mirror armor	20 gp	+5	+4	–5	30%	20/15 ft.	40 lbs.
Heavy Armor
Banded	150 gp	+4	+1	–2	35%	20/15 ft. ²	20 lbs.
Kusari gusoku	200 gp	+4	+1	–7	35%	20/15 ft. ²	20 lbs.
Lamellar, iron	100 gp	+4	+0	–7	40%	20/15 ft. ²	15 lbs.
Splint	100 gp	+4	+0	–3	40%	20/15 ft. ²	25 lbs.
Tatami-do	500 gp	+4	+4	–6	35%	20/15 ft. ²	30 lbs.
O-yoroi	750 gp	+5	+2	–6	35%	20/15 ft. ²	30 lbs.
Agile plate ³	400 gp	+6	+3	–4	25%	20/15 ft.	25 lbs.
Plate ³	200 gp	+6	+3	–4	35%	20/15 ft. ²	30 lbs.
Stone coat	500 gp	+8	+0	–7	40%	20/15 ft. ²	45 lbs.
¹ For Medium characters. Small: ½ weight. Large: ×2 weight. ² Run speed ×3, not ×4. ³ When worn alone, treated as a lighter armor category (chain → chain shirt / light; agile plate → agile breastplate / heavy; plate → breastplate / medium).

Agile Plate: Breastplate designed for extra flexibility. When worn alone, ACP for Climb and jump checks is only –1 (masterwork and mithral reduce further).
Armored Coat: Sturdy leather coat reinforced with sewn-in metal plates. Can be donned or removed as a move action (no "don hastily" option). Treated as medium armor when worn with other pieces, light armor when worn alone.
Banded: Shirt of overlapping metal plates reinforcing leather.
Chain: Chain mail shirt. When worn alone, treated as light armor (functions as a chain shirt).
Do-Maru: Lightweight lamellar armor that wraps around the body like a short armored coat.
Four-Mirror Armor: Cuirass of four plates harnessed with leather shoulder straps. Includes a helmet.
Haramaki: Silken sash ("belly-warmer") lined with chainmail or articulated metal plates, tied about the stomach.
Hide: Shirt, wrap, or jacket of tanned and preserved thick-skinned beast hide.
Kikko: Shirt of hexagonal iron plates sewn into cloth or leather.
Kusari Gusoku: Chain jacket worn in place of heavier chest armor.
Lamellar Cuirass: Lacquered leather plates bound together over a silk shirt. Sometimes worn alone for ceremonial occasions.
Lamellar, Horn: Shirt of horn plates laced in parallel rows, reinforced with leather.
Lamellar, Iron: Shirt of iron plates laced in parallel rows, reinforced with chainmail.
Lamellar, Leather: Shirt or cuirass of hard-boiled leather plates laced in parallel rows.
Lamellar, Steel: Shirt or cuirass of steel plates laced in parallel rows. Includes a helmet.
Leather: Shirt or jacket of hard-boiled leather sewn into one piece.
Mountain Pattern: Shirt of interlocking steel pieces riveted onto cloth or leather.
O-Yoroi: Multipart cuirass that includes a kabuto helmet and ho-ate mask.
Padded: Shirt or jacket of heavy or quilted cloth.
Plate: Steel breastplate, plus a helmet when worn with other pieces. When worn alone, treated as medium armor (breastplate, no helmet included).
Quilted Cloth: Heavy quilted cloth shirt designed to trap ranged piercing weapons. When worn alone (or with only other quilted cloth pieces), grants DR 3/— against ranged piercing weapons.
Scale: Shirt or cuirass of dozens of small overlapping metal plates.
Silken Ceremonial Armor: Layered cloth robes with an embroidered silk outer layer reinforced with leather studs. Can be worn over other torso armor pieces but grants no additional armor bonus when layered.
Splint: Shirt or cuirass of metal strips reinforced with chain mail.
Stone Coat: Heavy lamellar cuirass of alchemically treated stone. When worn with other armor pieces, gains no armor bonus from them — only their hindrances apply.
Studded Leather: Hard-boiled leather sewn together and reinforced with metal studs.
Tatami-Do: Lighter lamellar shirt version of o-yoroi. Includes a collapsible kabuto helmet and armored hood.
Wooden: Shirt or cuirass of fire-treated wood sewn over leather.

See also: Armor Guide for standard armor stats · Special Materials for full adamantine, mithral, and dragonhide rules.